La Fontaine De Mars, a true Paris Bistro - nothing every changes and that's the way it should be!

 I never recommend restaurants in France, because my eating habits and likes are so far different than most people, but today I'm feeling a bit sentimental, so I'l talk about one of my favorite true Paris bistros - La Fontaine de Mars in the seventh Arrorndissement. 

Ever since I first visited this bistro over 50 years ago, its has become my go to place when ever I'm in Paris ( which is very often). A deluxe Bistro all with dark paneling and soft lights, pretty gingham tablecloths, napkins the size of sheets and the sort of easy bonhomie that is earned, not bought.

Like the other favorite, true Bistros throughout the city, I adore these great Parisian bistros. Reliable, never-changing, honed by years of doing the same thing, just right. No high art or named chefs, no smears, hype or hyperbole. Stars may rise and fall, but the beauty of these bourgeois food-serving French bistros, in Paris and beyond, will never cease to shine!

An unknown Abbey in the middle of France and its influence on one of France's greatest dress designers

 In 1895, a young girl from a very poor family was sent to a local Abbey ( in the Limoges region) for schooling for 6 years. The Abbey housed over 150 monks and was at one time the largest in France. Here the young girl was taught among other crafts to sew. 

Every Sunday, she and the other girls housed there would enter the chapel for mass. It was here that this young girl praying, noticed the beautiful stained glass windows. 

Those window designs would be the most important thing in her life and you'll see why.

The abbey today is not longer used as a girls school, but still stands.

The Abbey is in Aubazine and the little girl's name was Gabrielle CHANEL, or as she is known today, Coco Chanel.

Look at the stained glass window and think about Coco's logo.